There are herbal teas without caffeine-- I LOVE peppermint tea--refreshing, and works well for me --I don't add sugar to any teas..don't like "sweet tea". Even regular ice tea--no sugar, but I do like a squirt of lemon

I always - well, since I was 11 years old - drank my tea black and without sugar, finding it much more refreshing that way. Drinking black tea weak means you don't get that bitter taste strong tea can have. Recently I began to drink Redbush tea. This is naturally without caffeine and so is very good at hydrating. If you like its earthy taste it can be a great drink!

Water is the best! You're at a place where you're not chained to an addictive product when you lay off the caffine. I just began drinking all of my hot tea (green, herbal, black) w/o sugar mid December. Honey has too much of a wild taste in those those teas, for me.

I have heard that drinking caffeinated beverages are not equal to drinking water. The beverage has to be decaffeinated. I am not sure what the difference is. Maybe someone on here can explain what the caffeine has to do with it.

Basically, your body can extract and use the water from anything that has water in it (including solid foods) to meet your water needs. So, the question is not really whether something other than plain water "counts" as water, but rather, whether the other stuff that comes with it makes it a good choice for your needs and goals.

Some beverages, such as those with high caffeine or alcohol content (both diuretics), may also increase the amount of water your body eliminates without using, so that needs to be taken into account. Some beverages provide "empty" calories (added sugar) that need to be counted, and some provided needed nutrients. Others such as Crystal Lite use artificial sweeteners to provide flavor without calories, which appears to be safe in moderation, but could potentially cause problems if used excessively.

I think most nutritionists do not consider tea a substitute for water because of the caffeine which makes it act as a diuretic. Personally, I count it towards my water total because it is a fluid. I just don't count it as a full cup. If you want to up the flavor without upping calories, try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (to either your tea or water). It's good and good for you!

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